Varzob Peak, a hike from the 21 km Gorge to Odzhuk, mountains of Tajikistan

I had wanted to climb Varzob Peak for a long time, but it never worked out due to the inconvenient location of this mountain. In the sense that the mountain is seemingly close, but no matter which side you ascend from, you only reach Varzob Peak closer to evening, meaning I would have to plan an overnight stay. Although, you could go via the quarries; there's a road that leads to the ridge, and from there the climb would take a couple of hours. But that doesn't seem very sporting to me; if you're going to climb, it should be properly, from the foot of the mountain.

Hiking to the Peak of Gushor, Varzob Gorge, Mountains of Tajikistan

The peak of Gushor is well visible from any point in Dushanbe. I have been planning to climb it for a long time, and finally I did it. The mountain, or rather the peak of Gushor, is one of the peaks that crown the Chilikak ridge. This ridge stretches from the Varzob River (approximately 16-21 kilometers from the Varzob highway) to the Luchob River in the area of the village of Shiratalo. The Gushor peak (2450 meters) is not the highest point of the Chilikak ridge; there is another peak with a weather station above it (2552 meters), another unnamed peak (2606 meters), and the highest point, the Chilokak peak (2702 meters), which is already closer to Shiratalo and cannot be seen from the city.

Peak Ismoili Somoni (Communism Peak), Pamir Mountains, Tajikistan

The highest point of Tajikistan is Peak Ismoili Somoni, rising 7,495 meters above sea level. It is the highest peak in Central Asia and throughout the entire territory of the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States). Among the world's highest peaks, it ranks fiftieth.

For climbers from the CIS and around the world, Peak Ismoili Somoni is a landmark summit. Many consider it their duty to climb it. More than thirty routes lead to the summit. Some of them are recognized as the most challenging in the world. Their distinctive features are unique technical parameters: a colossal altitude difference of about 2,500 meters and a steepness exceeding fifty percent.